If you’ve been in Tappan Square recently, you might have noticed some recent additions. Littered near the paths crossing the park are large logs, trimmed into long rectangular shapes and set slightly elevated from the ground on their sides. One might think them part of some construction project, perhaps replacement columns to hold up the roof of the bandstand. However, according to the Sept. 30 issue of the Campus Digest, these objects are actually benches made from the trees removed from campus for SIP-related construction.
These “benches” are not finished. By this I mean that their surfaces have not been sanded or smoothed, such that one can see the marks of the sawmill where they were cut into their rectangular shape. Additionally, they are not coated in any sort of wood finish to protect from the elements of nature. Overall, the level of care put in to make them fit for use is minimal. I speculate that, as a result of this, they will deteriorate more quickly than they should, though I cannot say how fast.
Because the benches are square and unfinished, they are not as comfortable as other benches around campus. They also have no back to lean against. Also, because of the unfinished nature of these benches, there is a real possibility of splinters, so I encourage caution on the part of would-be users.
I was saddened to see the appearance of these benches because I believe there could have been better uses for the wood used to make them. If the wood is good enough to make a bench, I believe that a proper bench should be made, perhaps similar to other wooden benches around campus. If the wood is not good enough to make a bench, then I don’t believe it should be used for furniture at all.
Over my time here at Oberlin, each new round of tree removals has sparked conversations about how strange it feels to look up and see bare sky instead of sunlight filtering through the leaves of trees. Our campus is known for its many trees, so the affairs of our local trees are a topic close to home for many. These trees provided shade and beauty for students for many years, and I believe they deserve to be respected by being used to make some sort of art, whether that be a comfortable bench or a piece by a student. Wood has many purposes: as building material, as fuel, or even for study. We even have examples of trees being repurposed right here in Oberlin: the tree that was turned into a chainsaw sculpture displaying our town’s name. Why choose this of all options? Each log contains more than enough wood for a bench, though I’ll concede that not all of it is usable. Still, being unfinished means that these benches will sit and rot, becoming unfit for use.
One can tell from the shape and marks on these benches that they have been to a sawmill of some sort. Then why not go a little further and cut the wood into boards? With those, you could make any number of things. These benches instead use a lot of wood to make a single piece of furniture that is going to last a comparatively short time. The most fitting word I can think of to describe them is a waste.
These benches don’t look particularly good. They are large and square, with rough sides. Furthermore, they lack the warm glow of finished wood, making them stand out more against the natural backdrop of the environment in which they have been placed.
This seems to be a temporary project, which is sad because I believe our campus deserves a plethora of places to rest. I am a huge fan of benches and have been proud to be in a place that has a reasonably high concentration of them. I believe that having dedicated places to rest is hugely beneficial to many populations, so I am definitely in favor of adding new benches. However, I also believe that if you want to do something, you should do it right, and it seems that the College chose the easy road in this case. Unfortunately, there are some benches on campus that could use some love, and it saddens me to see them neglected while the College sets large pillars on their sides in Tappan Square.
Some of my peers have speculated that these benches were just for use during Homecoming, which would make sense given their temporary nature. Unfortunately, this was not mentioned in the Campus Digest post announcing their existence, and even if it is the case, they remain a waste of material.
More than any other emotion, I feel baffled at this decision on behalf of the College. The surprise placement of square, unfinished logs in Tappan Square using materials from trees many were sad to see go is a concept so bizarre that I cannot begin to understand where it came from. I hope the College continues its efforts toward providing places of rest around campus, but I hope it focuses those efforts on creating and maintaining enduring places of rest so that they can be enjoyed for years to come.
